Pocket Pet: Radish the Raccoon

Lion Brand® Fun Fur®

GAUGE:

24 stitches x 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size
specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be
sufficient. The needle or hook size called for in the pattern is based on what
the designer used, but it is not unusual for gauge to vary from person to person.
If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make your swatch, try using a smaller
size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

Cut the old yarn, leaving a tail of at least 4 inches. Loosely tie a knot with the new yarn (A) around the old yarn (B), leaving a tail of a least 4 inches. Slide the knot up the tail of the old yarn as close as possible to your work. Pull tight.

When you turn your work and start the next row, knit with the loose ends of the yarn as will as the main strand of B until the ends are used up. Yes -- you are knitting with 3 strands for a short time. Because this piece is made of furry yarn this won't show or cause a problem.

Row 35: Change to B. Knit in front and back of first stitch, knit to last stitch, knit in front and back of last stitch. You now have 8 stitches on your needle!

Note: Knitting twice into a stitch (once in front and once in back) of a stitch is a way to do an increase.

Knit into the front loop of the next stitch on your left-hand needle as you would normally, pull the loop of the new stitch through but don't remove the stitch from the left needle.

Then knit into the back loop of the same stitch so you have two stitches.

Finally, slide the original stitch off the left needle.

Row 36: Knit in front and back of first stitch, knit to last stitch, knit in front and back of last stitch. You now have 10 stitches on your needle.

Rows 37-51: Repeat, adding one stitch at the beginning and each of each row as you did in rows 35 and 36. When you reach row 51, you will have 40 stitches on your needle.

Increasing - Knitting into the Front and Back of a Stitch

An easy way to add a stitch is to use an existing stitch. Insert the right needle into the stitch, wrap the yarn around the needle and pull through as for a normal knit stitch, elongating the loop slightly. Don't pull the stitch over the left needle yet.

Bring the top of the right needle around to the back and knit into the back loop of the stitch as shown (see the FAQ on knitting into the back loop for more detail). You now have two stitches on the right needle.

Row 52: Knit the first two stitches together; knit until there are two stitches remaining on your needle, knit these two stitches together. You now have 38 stitches on your needle.

Rows 53: Repeat, knitting two stitches together at the beginning and end of every row. You now have 36 stitches.

Rows 54-59: Repeat, knitting two stitches together at the beginning and end of every row. On rows 59, you will have 24 stitches on your needle.

Row 60: Change to A. Knit two stitches together at the beginning and end of the row. You now have 22 stitches.

Rows 61-64: Knit two stitches together at the beginning and end of every row. On Row 64, you will have 14 stitches.

Row 65: Change to B. Knit two stitches together at the beginning and end of every row. You now have 12 stitches.

Decreasing - Knitting two stitches together

Work to the two stitches to be decreased and then knit the two stitches together as shown. The stitches slant to the right.

Purling two stitches together is done in the same manner. This decrease slants the stitches to the right.

Rows 66-68: Knit two stitches together at the beginning and end of every row. On Row 68, you will have 6 stitches.Row 69: Change to A. Knit two stitches together at the beginning and end of the row. You will have 4 stitches.Row 70: Knit two stitches together at the beginning and end of the row. You will have 2 stitches.Row 71: Knit the two stitches together. Cut the yarn, leaving a 6 inch tail. Pull the tail through the last loop.

The piece will be square, about 4 inches [approximately 10 cm] with a striped tail as shown. Rows 61-64 were knit in black (which makes the mask area of the face) as were rows 70 and 71 (which is the nose)

Thread a Fold the raccoon in half as shown and stitch one edge closed.

Turn the fabric and open it -- it will be a cone. Put the stuffing into it. Position stuffing with your finger to make the Raccoon the shape you'd like (you can always adjust this later, as well)

Fold down the flap at the top of the cone, aligning the pieces so the stripe on the tail meets the stripe on the body. Sew the open edges closed.

To add eyes, pull the crochet hook all the way through the 'head' and use it to pull the black and white yarn through together. Tie the two yarns securely on one end (use several knots). Pull the two yarns tight and tie off on the other end (use several knots). Trim closely.